Poker etiquette is one of the most misunderstood concepts for both beginners and home game poker players. Most of the; it matters more in the casino than in the home games. There are many online poker players who have never played a live game before. If that’s the case; it’s possible they don’t have a clue about poker etiquette. For the most part, this is something you just learn as you go. Most people make several mistakes while learning proper etiquette at the poker table.
What not to do
There are many things you should pay attention to when playing poker. Some people are very picky about the rules and what you should and more importantly should not do. One thing many new players do is act before it’s their turn. For example, if the action is directed at the person in seat 2 and the person in seat 4 folds or bets before seat 2 or 3 has had a chance to act. This is one of the most frustrating and common mistakes people make. You will definitely be notified if you do this at the casino. If you do it in a home game, you might get away with it.
Another thing that many new players do is tinker with their chips and cards. Proper poker etiquette says that you must keep your chips and cards on the table and in front of you at all times. You must not have cards or chips on your lap. This should never be done in a poker room, especially in a casino. Again this is something you might be able to do at home games; but they will destroy you in the casino.
How you bet is another important thing to keep in mind. Many new players do what is called a string bet. In fact, there are many experienced payers who do this. These kinds of bets will usually never be voided at home games but are completely against the rules at the casino. Bet betting is when you put a certain amount of money into the pot and then you add more. This is usually not done to hurt or cause grief. Usually it’s just an accident or people don’t realize what they’re doing.
One thing that helps a lot is being vocal. Before you do anything, state what you did. If you are going to bet or raise, you must say that you raise or bet. Also make sure that you state the amount you collect or the amount you bet. It really helps to stop the confusion and you are not to blame for the string bet if you state the amount you are trying to bet.